Apparatus for drying grain.



G. STAUNTON. APPARATUS FOB DRYING GRAIN. Prummel FILED 001219.19011. i

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

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G. sTAUNToN. APPARATUS FOB DRYING GRAIN..

APPLIOATION FILED 00T.19,1908.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

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GRAY STAUNTON, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR DRYING GRAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

Application filed October 19, 1908. Serial No. 458,339.

To all 'whom 11i/may concern:

Be it known that I, GRAY STAUNTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for DryingGrain, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a drying process and apparatus for the drying ofgrain and other substances; and it has for its object to provide aprocess and apparatus whereby grain or other substances may be easily,economically and efficiently dried.

One of the particular objects of my invention is to provide a dryingsystem in which the drying process may be continuously carried on whilethe grain or other substance is still or at rest, by the passage of apositively circulated drying fluid therethrough.

A further obj ect of my invention is to provide a generally improveddrying apparatus; and other objects of my invention will become apparentto those skilled in the art from the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying illustrative drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 is a plan view of a drying apparatus with parts broken away;Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; and, Figs. 3 and 4L are similarplan and side views of a modified apparatus embodying my invention andsuitable for the carrying out of my process.

In general my invention contemplates the treatment of grain or othersubstance to be dried, which consists in inclosing the substance in acontaining receptacle, and positively drawing through the substance tobe dried, a current of heated drying fluid, such as hot air, theatmosphere within the said receptacle being maintained in attenuatedcondition by the fluidexhausting device which draws the currenttherethrough.

My invention further contemplates the continuous carrying on of thedrying process iupon bodies of grain or other material to be dried whilein a state of rest and in a single apparatus, by dividing the dryingapparatus into a plurality of receptacles independently arranged forconnection with the exhausting apparatus, and arranged also to beindependently filled and emptied of their contents.

The apparatus by which I preferably carry this process into effectconsists in general of a series of structurally separated receptacleshaving closable apertures for filling and emptying the receptacles, andhaving additional circulation apparatus comprising an inlet for theintroduction of heated air or other heated gaseous matter, and an outletfor its eduction, the outlets of the several receptacles being connectedin conimon with a suitable exhausting means and arranged to have theircommunication with such exhausting means independently controlled,whereby any desired receptacle may be cut off from or opened tocommunication with the exhausting means.

In the drawings 5 indicates an exhausting means, shown as a blower,which may be of any suitable or desired construction, having its inletspout G divided into several branches 7, 7, 7b, each provided with avalve or damper S, controlling the passage of air through said branch tothe blower inlet. To each branch pipe is connected a receptacle-unit ofwhich a suitable plurality, preferably three (3) are provided, the groupcomposed of the several units constituting the material-receivingstructure as a whole. Each said receptacle unit, indicated generally at9, 9a and 9", comprises preferably a cylindrical body 10 having anangular hood 11, in one angular face of which is made a feed-opening 12,closable. as by a valve or door 13, and the other angular base of thehood being composed of a screen 14, through which communication is hadvfrom the interior of the receptacle 10 to a throat 15, communicating atits upper end with a branch pipe 7. At its bottoni the receptacle ispreferably provided with a similar' angular base 16, one side of whichis provided with an opening closable by door 17, and the other side ofwhich may be solid, as shown at 1S in Fig. 2, or foraminous, as shown at18 in Fig. 4.

The several grain outlet openings closed by doors 17 may open intochutes 20 leading into a common down-spout 21, and for the independentfilling of the receptacles a movable feed spout 22 may be providedcommunicating with the source of supply, of grain or other material,controlled by a valve and operating in conjunction with a detachablefunnel 24; for directing material into any selected entrance opening 12.

Air or other gaseous substance is introduced into the base 16 of thereceptacle to pass through the material to be dried in a Pio Vthroughwhich the heated air may escape into the body 10 of the receptacle overa large area of its base, and below the body of material which thereceptacle may contain.

.If preferred, however, a construction as Vshown in Fig. ll, may beemployed wherein the heating structure is a steam coil 25 disposedwithin an air intake pipe 27, opening through the foraminous bottom 18of the receptacle to the interior thereof; or other suitable heatingmeans may be employed.

In either arrangement shown the drying of the'grain or other material isaccomplished as follows: The material to be dried is introduced into thereceptacle 9 and the doors 13 and 17 are closed so that thereceptacle isentirely closed save for the opening for ingress and egress of air orthe drying liuid. Now the blower exhausting air from the receptacle andentraining heated air through the bottom intake pipe 27 draws orcirculates such drying medium through the contained material to bedried, 'and maintains the atmosphere within the receptacle attenuatedbelow normal atmospheric pressure, and under such conditions of dry heatin an attenuated atmosphere the grain or other substance, in a conditionof rest, dri-es rapidly and in good condition, its moisture beingconstantly carried away by the air currents. When the material issufficiently dried the particular receptacle unit is cut olf from theblower by the closing of its appropriate damper, the dried material islet out through the opening of doors 17 and the receptacle is relilled.For the use of three or more receptacle units in the group, inconnection with an eXhauster capablo of satisfactorily maintaining ararefaction within at least two of them, the process may be continuouslycarried on, two only vof the receptacle units being connected with theeXhauster at any one time, so that the third may be charged anddischarged of its grain while out off from the exhauster, and thenopened to the action of the eXhauster as soon as the grain within one ofthe other receptacle units is dried, so that such other receptacle unitrequires emptying and refilling.

I'Vhile I have herein described in some detail a particular mode andmeans for carrying out my process, it will be understood that I do notdesire to belimited to the particular illustrative disclosure hereinmade further than as specified in the claims.

Having described my' invention, what I claim is;

In a drying apparatus, a cylindrical re ceptacle, tapering top andbottom portion therefor, the top portion having in one of its sides amaterials-supply opening, and in the other a drying-medium exhaustopening, and the bottom having in one of itssidesa drying-medium supplyopening and in the other side a materials-exhaust opening, and means forsupplying drying medium to the receptacle, whereby material inclosedwithin the receptacle receives a draft of such medium of substantiallyuniform cross-sectional stress throughout the receptacle.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

GRAY STAUN'ION.`

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

